Resident Evil HD Remaster is an enhanced port of the 2002 GameCube remake of the 1996 original PlayStation game.

The grandaddy of survival horror is back for its umpteenth outing, this time updated in HD for 2015. But how does it hold up?

History

Just in case for some bizarre reason you have never played Resident Evil, here is a brief synopsis of what it is.

Resident Evil (or Biohazard as it is known as in Japan) is a survival horror game featuring members of the Special Tactics and Rescue Squad. A group tasked with investigating a fellow squad's downed helicopter and ultimately exploring an old mansion that is the setting of a zombie outbreak. It sounds like the plot of a bad B-movie and that's basically what the game is. Featuring camp cutscenes and laughable voice acting, Resident Evil carries it so well that it feels intentional. You take control of either Chris Redfield or Jill Valentine, who both have their own strengths and weaknesses and each have a unique journey through the game.

Gameplay

Unlike Resident Evil 4 onwards, this adventure isn't an action or shooter orientated game, sure it has shooting in it, but the game is more like a huge puzzle box. The gameplay comes from searching rooms throughout the mansion via interconnectiong corridoors and hidden passageways, finding items to progress puzzles and hunting down keys to open that next door. Along the way you will have to play fight or flight with the evil residents of the house; grotesque zombies, mutated dogs, giant snakes and monstrous spiders. Inventory management and even saving the game is all part of the overall experience due to the limited resources available.

2015

So what's new in REmake REmaster (RERE)? You may have noticed from some of the screens that Jill is wearing a different outfit from her original Beret model. RERE features Chris and Jill's classic outifts but also has their BSAA costumes from Resident Evil 5. After playing the game for what feels like the millionth time it was nice to have the option to change their looks from the get-go. Widescreen support has been added to the display options and the game is running at 1080p. Purists can still play it in 4:3 Original mode if they want that nostalgia fix. Backgrounds have been remade and not just upscaled which all adds to the authenticity of the setting, new lighting is present throughout -- this is the best the game has ever looked. Classic Tank controls are still present and an all new Alternate control scheme has been added to the analogue sticks, that surprisingly, works really well. With this new scheme your player character actually moves where you move the stick, with only some slight directional issues when transitioning screens. At the start of the game we can now choose one of 3 vague statements that are really choosing the difficulty setting. Very Easy, Easy and Normal. This is a great addition for newcomers to a game which in 2015 can sometimes feel like some of its mechanics are unfair or outdated.

Worth it?

If you have never played Resident Evil (why not!?) then I would definitely recommend picking up this Remastered version. This is the game that coined the term 'Survival Horror' and is cherished by many fans as the best title in the series. The same goes if you have only played the original PlayStation version. If however, you have played the 2002 GameCube REmake, then this version becomes a bit harder to recommend due it being basically a modernized version, technically, of the same game.

Verdict

Pros+
Definitive Edition+
Holds up well in 2015+
Most levels are remade and not just upscaled

Cons-
Lots of backtracking-
Puzzle clues are extremely vague

9

Presentation
This is the best looking version of Resident Evil to date. The game has been brought up to modern standards and looks surprisingly good considering it's been almost 13 years since it appeared on the GameCube.

8

Gameplay
Exploration is key to what is really a very linear experience. At times you will panic in this very claustrophobic of settings. Deciding whether to run or fight is a huge part of the game when resources are so limited, especially on higher difficulties.

9

Lasting Appeal
With over 10 endings to unlock, multiple difficulty settings and modes to try, as well as the two different characters to play as, RERE should last you a long time. Online leaderboards are also present.

9

out of 10

Overall(not an average)
It's a hard task to sum up a game like this. Should it be judged as a title in 1996, 2002 or 2015? Does it stand up in today's market on its own merits? Am I viewing it with rose-tinted glasses and a bucket full of nostalgia or does it still deserve the high praise it has always garnered? I first played Resident Evil on the PSX with a group of friends back in 1996 and have fond memories of us gathered around the TV trying to figure out the puzzles, what to do and where to go next. In 2015 I feel you must play the game blind to experience that same magic. Using internet guides and youtube walkthroughs will take away everything that makes Resident Evil the classic survival horror adventure. In a nutshell the game is as good as it ever was and better than it has ever been.
A masterclass in pacing, whether the design truly is masterful or just a product of the age from which it came will probably never be truly understood.

Nice to hear! I'll be picking this up for my Xbox One in the future,
But just out of curiosity, are there achievements for the game, and if so, are they simple progression achievements or do they pertain to specific counts, such as "Kill 50 zombies with the pistol."

9 of 10 is sure appropriate. Got my physical copy in November and i'am already through it. But to be honest: If you got the GameCube original, there is nothing new to discover. If you don't care about trophies etc., spare you're money.

Pre-ordered on PS4 for the addition of free cross-play on PS3 (fkn awesome!).
Pre-loaded and waited until midnight last night to play the game.
Definitely worth the wait!
THIS, is the game at it's full potential.
Even blows the Gamecube and Wii versions out of the water and that's saying alot.
Looks super amazing on the PS4 and the DS4's control is silky smooth.

If you're a RE or horror fan and don't have this game yet, you are missing out, period.

For those wanting a physical copy only, the asian PS3 copies are region free and feature english voice-overs option as well as a reversible cover with "Resident Evil" on the inside.

Just a heads up comparison between localized (NA/English) version & Import (Asia/HK/JP) version.

- No Wesker Report 1 & 2 in localized version under 'Gallery' mode.
- No Japanese VAs as an option in localized versions, Japanese/Asian version has both VAs as an option, only a wider variety of subtitle language options.

Twitter picture comparison sample that I took from the 'Gallery' (Extras) menu I took between versions.